Treatment for scars from dermatillomania, skin picking

Keep your husband by the sounds of it he is really nice and supportive thats awsome. I am 15 years old and girls my age are going out with their friends and hanging out with their boyfriends. I on the other hand constantly cover up in long sleeve shirts and long pants. While my friends are deciding what strapless, short dress to wear to the party. I'm deciding what I'm going to do sitting at home all day hiding from everyone. I have to stop picking and I will stop picking!

I've had this issue for as long as I can remember, but it keeps getting worse and worse. I'm 16 and my arms have the most scarring, but my legs and even my breasts have some too. Sometimes the scarring is less noticeable during the year, such as during the summer, but during the winter I tend to pick more and therefore I cover up more. Over all, it has limited my life and made me extremely self conscious. My parents and family have always known about it, but most of my friends don't. I've always been extremely embarrassed when people ask me about it, I just don't know what to tell them. It's a struggle for me during school and especially during sports because I have to wear a sleeveless jersey and shorts. I'm just so terrified of people asking me or judging me. It also scares me in the social sense. I have plenty of friends, but sometimes I just feel so alone. I don't know any one else who has this issue. I'm also worried that it will affect my ability to find someone special. I've had a boyfriend before, but he never asked about the scarring. I feel like it's such an uncommon thing, I don't know how to address it to others. I know my issues with picking stem from stress. I've always had high standards for myself in school, and particularly this year I am taking a number of AP and Honors classes. On top of that, my parents are in an on-going process of getting divorced, which started when they split up about 3 years ago. I tend to take on the needs of others before myself, I enjoy helping people with their problems, but so much so that I think I forget about myself. Picking helps me overcome the stress and generally makes me "zone out". But I know it's unhealthy, and it has taken a toll on my self esteem. I have stopped off and on before, but it just keeps coming back to haunt me. I've tried various skin treatments, such as Mederma, but it's expensive. I've found that simply using lotion all over my body before I go to bed can improve my skin. Also, eating right and ESPECIALLY exercise seems to work wonders. I'm not extremely athletic, but I'm 5'9 and fairly lean. I've noticed that I get the same feeling of release and calmness after a good workout as I do after picking. I had no idea that this was actually classified as a disorder/disease, I thought it was just something that I had alone. It's extremely comforting to know that I'm not alone. You are all wonderful and beautiful people, please know that you are not alone, and that I am sending good thoughts your way. I'm so young and so terrified that this will take over my life, but I won't let it, I will stay strong. Thank you so much <3 .

I am only 14, and already my skin has extremley visible scars, to the point that I pull myself out of all social situations due to my anxiety. I cannot wear swimsuits and it has been 3 years that I have been picking for and I just dont know what to do. It has caused me to become extremley self conscious and depressed. I know other people suffer but I just dont know how long I can continue. I am sick of disappointing my family and I have lost all my friends because I never go out. I am only 14 and have tried so many ways to stop but I cant continue to live like this and in reality I cant see a future.

Hi erinlaine-- I'm so sorry to hear about your struggle, but I can totally relate--as everyone here can, too. I have one place in particular that I have picked at for so long that I have created a very ugly, visible hypertrophic scar. It is very visible--so much so that I frequently have people ask me what happened to me. It is amazing how insensitve people can be. You are fortunate to have a husband who supports you on this issue. I have a wonderful husband, but his method of dealing with my problem is to just ignore it. He has never mentioned any concern for my habit. Not once. It is a lonely disorder. As for your scars, I have employed the help of my dermatologist. Over-the-counter remedies can help some, but they usually provide only minimal improvement to a serious, long-term scar. My dr. is injecting my scars with a cortisone solution to help shrink some of the swelling. This has worked fairly well, but I may still ultimately need some type of plastic surgery to really keep my face/neck scars from being so very noticeable. I have accepted that I will always have these little reminders of my neurosis, but I am hoping I can get them to a point where people will stop staring and asking rude questions. Please see a good dermatologist about your scars, and in the meantime, try using those silicone patches you can find in drugstores. The longer you can keep them on, the better. They will help keep your scars soft and flatten, as scars tend to raise up when they get hard. I've tried the generic CVS ones, but they don't work as well for me as the Dr. Blaine's clear, self-stick, reusable patches. Hope this helps you some. Good luck!

I don't have any advice except to stay out of the sun because it really does make it worse. I know lemon juice will iighten small spots sometimes but not always at least not for me. I'm 20 almost 21 and I notice that my skin is slowing down too compared to how fast it used to heal a couple years ago. We just have to stop ourseleves....at least your husband is supportive of you that's a light in the darkness at least. By the way- I never wear short sleeves too and I have bad social anxiety as well....my armsa re to the point where the skin on the outer side of my arm (the part you see) is compltely covered in spots of all diff sizes from my elbow to my shoulder blade. It's disgusting.